They found Ren already sipping on a hot cup of coffee by the time they sat down.
There were already two cups waiting for them as well, along with a plate of Ohagi on the side.
That made Akira's heart flutter a little.
They sat down, and when Akira had taken a few moments to steady herself, Yui set her cup down and rested a hand over Akira's.
It was a small gesture.
But one so reassuring, it almost made the hybrid emotional again.
"How are you really feeling?" Yui asked quietly, concern etched on her face.
Akira hesitated.
"I-I'm feeling better. Well...a little anxious because we're supposed to be in class early, so—"
"School starts an hour later on Fridays," Ren said simply, never looking up from his cup. "You can forget about being late. Won't happen."
"But..." Akira slowed. "If school starts later, then...why were you guys already out there?"
"We were waiting for you," Yui said.
Her lips parted.
"Waiting for...me? W-Why would you wait for...me?" She tried to chuckle.
It... didn't work.
"I don't...understand why you'd do that for me."
Ren sighed.
Yui shot him a glance.
He shrugged.
"What? It's good coffee—"
"Can you at least try to stop being a nuisance here? Akira actually needs our support and you're just..." She bit back a groan.
Akira watched the exchange between them for a moment longer before Teio budded in with her book and pen.
"Will you be making another order?"
All eyes turned to her.
"Another coffee."
"I'll have fries."
"Mhm. Okay. And Akira? More Ohagi?" Teio beamed.
Akira nodded gently.
"Wait, are you two...like, do you two know each other?" Yui asked, eyes widening in surprise.
Teio grinned.
"She's our regular here. So me and her have kinda sorta...gotten to know each other more."
The younger girl laughed, trying to steady herself.
"I'm actually just happy she's brought along some friends."
That landed somewhere soft and awkward in Akira's chest.
"T-Teio, the food?"
"Oh, right. Sorry. I'll get your orders right away."
The trio remained in the aftermath of her presence.
"She's a lively one," Ren commented.
Yui's attention shifted back onto Akira, who seemed a little more at ease now.
Akira didn't look away this time.
Progress.
"I can tell that the waitress likes having you around," Yui said, a smile creeping onto her lips.
Akira felt a faint heat on the back of her neck.
"Yeah. She says I'm...nice company to have around."
"Do you believe it?" Ren asked bluntly, hiding behind his cup.
Yui's eye twitched.
"Sometimes."
That landed.
They didn't say anything after that.
When the orders came around, Akira removed her card to pay.
"Oh. No need for that. He already paid," Teio said, gesturing at Ren.
Akira looked at him.
He didn't look back.
Then she nodded.
"Okay."
When they were left alone again, Akira began looking through her purse.
Yui immediately clocked it.
"Akira, Ren paid because he wanted to...not because he wants your money."
"I can't let him spend his money on me without at least paying him back."
The blue-haired man scoffed.
"Oh, c'mon."
Yui slapped his arm. "Ren."
Akira's hands scurried in her bag.
Clumsy.
Frantic.
Yui's eyes softened.
"Akira."
"Just a moment."
"Akira..."
Her fingers fumbled clumsily through the notes.
"I know I had a ten somewhere here—"
Yui's hand rested over hers again.
"Stop."
Akira didn't look up.
Her shoulders loosened a little.
"I just..." her voice wavered. A sniff. "...want to make things right."
There it was.
The core spilling all over the place.
It wasn't about the money.
Yui got up from her seat and knelt next to Akira as she checked on her again.
Ren...
just sat there and stared at them with a look of half amusement on his face.
"You're one interesting person, Akira."
Akira tensed under the comment.
That almost made Yui snap.
"Dude. Whatever you're doing, now's not the time," she said firmly.
Ren didn't seem phased. He just leaned forward, hands in his pockets, and tilted his head.
"Akira."
No response.
"Yo. Akira."
"Ren—"
"If you don't talk, we don't help. That's pretty much how conversation works."
Yui stood up.
Ren didn't stop talking.
"You want people to know how you feel? Say it as it is. No need to hold back if it's already killing you inside. That's just dumb."
"Dammit, Ren—"
Akira held Yui's sleeve before she could move.
Yui turned.
She looked at Akira.
Her shoulders were shaking.
Her breathing was uneven, and even her fingers were gripping Yui's sleeve a little too tightly, like if she didn't anchor herself, she'd fall apart.
Ren's eyes flickered as he leaned back.
Yui lowered herself once more.
"Akira?"
...
[ "Keeping yourself in that little head of yours will only do more harm than good, smallie. Not harm to others..." ]
"...I keep messing things up..."
Yui leaned closer.
"...hey. Talk to us..."
[ "...but you." ]
Akira finally let herself slip.
Yui felt the warmth of her tears fall on her wrist.
"I keep..." she whispered, voice barely making it through the space between them. "...making too many mistakes."
Yui didn't rush her yet.
Ren simply stared, but not with that smirk on his face anymore.
"...and each time I do...I don't know how to fix them."
Akira wiped her face.
"I try. Every day. I keep trying to be better."
A hiccup.
"But it's never enough. I always mess up."
[ "You almost killed him!" ]
[ "Damn, demon..." ]
She wrapped her arms around herself, the memories pooling in.
"I didn't mean to hurt you guys yesterday..." she finally whispered.
Yui's brows knit together.
"You didn't. Akira, Mrs Juri—"
"But I would've if she wasn't there."
Her voice came out louder than intended.
"I mean..." hushed now. "...I should've listened to her."
"Then why didn't you?"
Yui glanced at Ren again.
There was no hostility in his question.
He was just tired of dancing around the truth.
"Yeah," Yui said, holding Akira's hand. "Why didn't you?"
Akira let a breath slip.
A feeble attempt at humor that broke halfway.
"Because I'm dangerous."
She said it like it was supposed to be obvious.
Yui shook her head.
"That's not true."
"Let her finish."
Both girls glanced at him.
One looked out the window.
The other remained patient.
Waiting.
Listening.
Maybe that's why it hurt so much...
...because for once there was actually someone listening.
Neither of them rushed her.
Not until Akira finally said it out loud.
"I told you about my brother. How he and I aren't the same..."
Yui nodded.
"Yeah. Half brother...you did."
She hesitated.
"...is that why? Because you didn't wanna disappoint your brother?"
Akira chuckled softly.
It had no humor behind it.
"I wish that were the case." Her voice dipped. "It would've been easier that way."
"Then what is it?" Ren nudged forward.
"Don't rush her, Ren..."
The lad took a breath through his nose and eased off.
"The more you keep it in..." he said quieter now, "the more it'll hurt you. Not others. You."
Akira's brows eased gently at that.
Just like Akashi said.
She offered Ren a small, fragile smile.
He... didn't know what to do with it.
She finally looked at Yui and made space for her to sit.
The three sat in a pause between silence and tension.
Then.
"The reason my brother and I are different is because of...me."